Behavioral Sciences 11: Social Structure and Demographics

Question 1

social structure

Answer 1

a system of people within a society organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships

Question 2

functionalism / functional analysis

what is function and dysfunction?

Answer 2

the study of the structure and function of each part of society

function - the beneficial consequences of people’s actions; help keep society in balance

dysfunctions - harmful consequences of people’s actions as they undermine a social system’s equilibrium

Question 3

manifest function

Answer 3

an action that is intended to help some part of a system

Question 4

latent functions

Answer 4

manifest functions that have unintended positive consequences on other parts of society

Question 5

conflict theory

Answer 5

theory which focuses on how power differentials are created and how these differentials contribute to the maintenance of social order

power differentials can lead to the dominance of a particular group if it successfully outcompetes other groups for economic, political, and social rsources

Question 6

symbolic interactionism

Answer 6

the study of the ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures, and other symbols

Question 7

symbols

Answer 7

those things that we attach meaning to

the keys to understanding how we view the world and communicate with one another within symbolic interactionism

Question 8

social constructionism

Answer 8

how individuals and groups make decisions to agree upon a given social reality

work together to agree on the significance of a concept or principle

depend on the society itself and are subject to change with societal developments

Question 9

rational choice theory

Answer 9

theory which states that individuals will make decisions that maximize potential benefit and minimize potential harm

Question 10

exchange theory

Answer 10

theory that applies rational choice theory to interactions in groups

a behavior that is met with approval by others will reinforce that behavior and encourage its continuation

Question 11

feminist theory

Answer 11

theory which attempts to explain social inequalities that exist on the basis of gender

explores how one gender can be subordinated, minimized, or devalued compared to the other

Question 12

gender roles

Answer 12

the behaviors expected of a given gender

Question 13

social institutions

Answer 13

well-established social structures that dictate certain patterns of behavior or relationships and are accepted as a fundamental part of culture

regulate the behavior of individuals in core areas of society

Question 14

sick role

Answer 14

a patient is not responsible for the illness and is exempt from normal social roles

the patient has the obligation to want to become well and seek out competent help

now - patients are expected to take more ownership of their health through diet, exercise, and seeking help before its needed

Question 15

four key tenents of medical ethics:

Answer 15

beneficence

nonmaleficence

respect for patient autonomy

justice

Question 16

beneficence

Answer 16

the physician has a responsibility to act in a patient’s best interests

Question 17

nonmaleficence

Answer 17

do no harm

the physician has a responsibility to avoid treatments or intervene in which the potential for harm outweighs the potential for benefit

Question 18

respect for patient autonomy

Answer 18

the physician has a responsibility to respect patients’ decisions and choices about their own healthcare

Question 19

justice

Answer 19

the physician has a responsibility to treat similar patients with similar care and to distribute healthcare resources fairly

Question 20

material culture

Answer 20

sociologists explore the meaning of objects of a given society

includes physical items one associates with a given group like artwork, emblems, clothing, jewelry

Question 21

symbolic culture / nonmaterial culture

Answer 21

sociologists explore the meaning of ideas that represent a group of people

ex. mottos, songs, catchphrases, themes

cognitive and behavioral compenents (cultural values, belief, norms, communication styles)

Question 22

culture lag

Answer 22

phenomenon that happens when symbolic culture is slower to change than material culture

Question 23

values

Answer 23

what a person deems important in life which dictate one’s ethical principals and standards of behavior

Question 24

belief

Answer 24

what an individual accepts to be truth

Question 25

cultural barriers

Answer 25

when a cultural difference impedes interaction with others

Question 26

ritual

Answer 26

formalized ceremony that usually involves specific material objects, symbolism, and additional mandates on acceptable behavior

Question 27

racial formation theory

Answer 27

theory that posits that racial identity is fluid and dependent on concurrent political, economic, and social factors

Question 28

symbolic ethnicity

Answer 28

a specific connection to one’s ethnicity in which ethnic symbols and identity remain important, even when ethnic identity does not play a significant role in everyday life

Question 29

Kinsey scale

Answer 29

scale which describes sexuality on a 0 to 6 scale

0 = exclusive heterosexuality

6 = exclusive homosexuality

Question 30

crude rate

Answer 30

a rate adjusted to a certain population over a specific period of time and multiplied by a constant to give a whole number

Question 31

how is immigration different from emigration?

Answer 31

immigration is people moving in

emigration is people moving out

Question 32

four stages of demographic transition

Answer 32

1. preindustrial society, high birth and death rates
2. improvements in healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, wages cause death rates to drop
3. improvements in contraception, women’s rights, industrialization causes birth rates to drop
   
   • children go to school longer and need to be supported by their parents longer, so families have less kids
4. industrialized society, low birth and death rates

Question 33

demographic transition

Answer 33

a model used to represent drops in birth and death rate as result of industrialization

Question 34

Malthusian theory

Answer 34

theory that focuses on how the exponential growth of a population can outpace the growth of the food supply and lead to social degradation and disorder

Question 35

relative deprivation

Answer 35

a perceived decrease in resources, representation, or agency relative to the past or to the whole of society

Question 36

how are proactive social movements different from reactive social movements?

Answer 36

proactive = promote social change

reactive = resist social change

Question 37

globalization

Answer 37

the process of integrating the global economy with free trade and the tapping of foreign markets

leads to a decrease in geographical constraints on social and cultural exchanges

can have positive and negative effects

Question 38

the dependency ratio

Answer 38

the portion of dependents in a population

= (dependents) / (everyone else)

dependents - people who are unable to work (younger than 15, older than 65)

Question 39

life course perspective

Answer 39

a multidisciplinary approach to understanding an individual’s mental, physical, and social health

analyzing people’s lives through social, structural, and cultural contexts

Question 40

social gradient in health

Answer 40

refers to the fact that inequalities in population health statuses relate to inequalties in individual social status

Question 41

dependency theory

Answer 41

periphery countries export resources to core countries and don’t have the means to develop themselves

Question 42

skeptical perspective (of globalization)

Answer 42

third world countries aren’t being integrated into the global economy with same benefits